State GOP outspends Dems by near 3-to-1 margin in final days

Republicans plugged about $1.74 million into state-level races in the final weeks leading up to next week’s general election.

The state GOP’s main political action committee threw in $1.2 million worth of campaign ads, direct mail pieces, polling and campaign workers while the party’s House and Senate caucuses kicked in more than a half million dollars combined, according to state campaign finance reports.

The heavy GOP spending is almost three times as much as its Democratic Party counterparts who spent $617,811 on the election in the last four weeks, according to their pre-general election campaign finance reports. Most of the expenses covered postage and mailing costs while funneling other cash directly to a handful of candidates.

“We like to be a broader resource than just a contributor to a campaign,” said Adam Nickas, spokesman for the Tennessee Republican Party, which is behind the GOP’s major PAC, called Tennessee Legislative Campaign Committee. “It just makes more sense for us to offer services like direct mail and various types of media.”

"The special interest Republican Party is bought and paid for by corporate lobbyists and the well connected," said Brandon Puttbrese, spokesman for the Tennessee Democratic Party.

"There was never any doubt their big money, Citizens United-style machine would outspend campaigns that are primarily supported by working people and middle class families," he said, referencing the landmark 2010 court decision that lifted the cap on independent expenditures by corporations and unions.

Republicans spent an average of almost $65,000 a day during the reporting period, which reflects political spending from Oct. 1 to 27. Democrats spent an average of just under $23,000 a day.

The Tennessee Democratic Party spent nearly $500,000 on legislative elections in the last month — about as much as the GOP legislative caucuses combined. Meanwhile, the House and Senate Democratic caucuses spent an extra $118,000 to get their members elected.

The campaign spending reports were due to the state Oct. 30 and are the last look at which groups contributed to political campaigns prior to the Nov. 6 election.

State Republicans are looking at next week’s election to pick up at least two seats in each chamber to score super majorities in both. The GOP-to-Democrat ratio is 20-13 in the Senate and 64-34 in the House with one independent. However, 11 Democrats decided not to run for re-election this year.

The pre-general election spending hints at races where the parties are focusing their attention. House Speaker Beth Harwell distributed some $20,000 to candidates through her political action committee, although the amount of money individual lawmakers spent did not count toward The City Paper's tally of total party spending.

Of that, she gave $5,000 to Charles Williamson, a Goodlettsville Republican facing off against Nashville Democrat Bo Mitchell in the 50th district; and another $5,000 to Ben Claybaker who is up against Democrat Jason Powell in District 53.

Lieutenant Gov. Ron Ramsey, who controls the state Senate, through his PAC spent $322,000 on everything from paying campaign workers, making political calls and about $125,000 to the Tennessee Republican Party alone.

Ramsey also cut a $5,000 check to Senate Education Committee Chair Dolores Gresham of Somerville who faces off against Meryl Rice of Whiteville.

Leading House Democrat Craig Fizthugh spent $87,000 in the waning weeks of the election. The House minority leader, who is in his own contested race, sent $6,250 of it to fellow Democrats and most of the rest to campaign staff, signs, ads and supplies.

His contributions include $1,000 each to incumbent Sherry Jones of Nashville who faces off against Robert Duvall of Antioch, and Mark Maddox of Dresden, a former lawmaker running against incumbent Andy Holt. He also gave $1,000 each to Mark Oakes of Dyersburg and Steve Wright of Springville.

5 Comments on this post:

Insecurity and angst concerning the outcome, or merely fiscal irresponsibility?

By:JeffF on 11/1/12 at 8:53

That is the downside of pandering to the 47%, money is not as readily available to remind them of all the great things you plan on doing for them with money captured from the n'er do well 53%.

By:govskeptic on 11/1/12 at 12:55

A great possibility that many of the GOP dollars in the Tenn races came from
the donations of many democrats into the GOP coffers. Many can't stand the
positions or policies of their own selected candidates.

By:pswindle on 11/1/12 at 2:12

Does money always elect the best people? Karl Rove is an example of fools spending for fools.

By:9445 on 11/30/12 at 12:52

Replica Purses – The classic purses
No one will be aware of the sheer piece of elegance and grace of the replica purses. TOMSIWOW0 If you really don't have any knowledge about it, let me tell you they are the most unique and emphatic kinds of handbags for the ladies. One of the most emphatic traits of replica handbags is that they are the real hallmark for the most beautiful, awesome, sizzling and hottest ladies in the world today. Generally these types of handbags can be bought and sold online. They are very distinctive and Cheap Minkoff Handbags Apparel affordable bags. They are very glossy, shiny, sparkling and breathtaking handbags. More often than not, replica designer purses can be made from the most practical and trustworthy tools, so Cheap Rebecca Minkoff Handbags that you will be definitely able to snare the best purses from the company with unique perfection and grace. Greatly online handbags shop offers you the most beautiful and charming handbags in a cost effective manner.
Bear in mind that designer purses are very stylish purses, alluring Cheap Rebecca Minkoff your minds on the dot. They are remarkably unique, efficient and versatile bags which would definitely lend a hand to you increase your bona fide shapes and looks in a competitive manner. Usually fake purses can be designed by implementing the sticky stocks and materials. That is why they are called as glossy purses. When it comes to the creativity Rebecca Minkoff Mini and style, no one can compare with the replica purse at all for the reason that it is made up with emphatic types of carving tools and techniques. For example, if you are going to design replica handbag online, you will most probably need to make use of coral draw, Photoshop, adobe illustrator, and dream weaver techniques. So, there is no doubt about that replica purses do have very robust, staggering and prestigious designs so as to catch your eyes.
As far as the variety of your own replica handbags is concerned, it is quite sure that it can be available in many imposing and versatile shapes from Cartier purses to Mont Blanc bags, from Ferrari handbags to black purses, from fashion handbags to white purses, from Hermes handbags to Marc Jacob purses, from Rebecca Minkoff purses to fossil purses, and from Louis Vuitton handbags to so on. Overall, they all are very beautiful and significant types of handbags for the fashion designer ladies. Therefore if you are really looking for elegant and versatile purses, please feel free to contact us online. We shall provide you the best replica purses in the most efficient, graceful, dedicated, professional, versatile and economical manner.